Fiber scouring and washing bowl



July 13, 1954 E. H. BROOKS, JR

FIBER SCOURING AND WASHING BOWL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil'ed June 1, 1948 Edward /l. Brno/rs, Jr.

JNVENTOR.

BY uu/Wawy 5MM):

July 13, 1954 E. H. BROOKS, JR

FIBER scouRING AND WASHING BowL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1948 Edward H. Brooks, ./r.-`

INVENTOR.

BY @l ,am n

WWWMW Patented July 13, 1954 Edward .H-..Brools, Jr., Portland; Maine; assignor of fifty percent' tovElton H. Thompson, Port- Application'fJunefI, 1948,Serial-No; 30,3115

(Cl. vG84-158)' 'TCl-aiins;

1 This invention appertains' to novel" and usefulimprovements indevicesV for use intreatingtbre. An object of this invention is to convey nbre witliin'an improvedtank, conveythe fibre over the topof a substantially :dat top baille plate or. platform positioned in the tank-,. andthe'unlder portion or surface of saidjplatform being; concaved', creatingi an.v air chamber, and; Ito circus late liquidf within the tank" continuallyV above and below the saidbaileeplate. ory platform?.

Another object of this ,invention is to supply; a plurality of Hoppers at the' lower:port-ionil of. the said tank or container and pivotallyvv mount a* plurality of baiiie plates on the hoppersfwliereby the clearance or distancebetweenthe: upper endsl ofV the naineV plates and the'r lower: surface of the platform may be selectively regulated-'in order t'ol control' thel fluid flow characteristics Within thetank..

Another object ofithis invention'fis to regulate the ow of u'id within the tankand accelerate the settlingA ofxrefusewithin the hoppe'rs.

A still further' object of thisi invention-iis to maintain a predetermined fluid level Withinzthe container and to reliever the accumulated refuse froinithe upper portion ofrthehopplers;

Another objectv of thisinventionI is to place openings inl the container` or' tanlr-- whereverit is deemed desirable andI to: attach; a'limafnifold tothe openings Wlierebyliquid" may be-.withidrawn and l if' advisable', clariedl orv wastedi Anotherv object of this-invention. isA to2 provide an apparatus for treating stock;which` includes introducing fibre stock' into the upper portion .of'a liquid cleansingaigent container and'on the uppersurface thereof, conveying the liquid band the@ major portion of the stock1- in order' that the. major portion' of? the' stock may beremoved from the upper surface ofv theA liquid andthen conveying the minor` .portion ofthe stock loe neath the-surface cf a platform' which denes submergedair zone, withdrawing buoyant waste: materialffromf this 'zone' and adjacent this zone; and: then conveying't-h'e minor portion' of the stock totv the surface ofr the liquid@ to again be' processed? Ancillary objects and featuresy of novelty will become apparent tosthose' skilledf in: the artin yfollowingthe` description-of the preferred'form of thef'inventiom. illustrated inl the` accompany.-

:ingi drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalfviewl ofthe ,prefe'rrediffornli of 'ther invention;v

FigurerZ isa-:sectional viewof the invention ztaikenfonthelinez.2ee2= off-Figurer; i

Figure 3' is Vaipers'pective View of a. portioniof tlie tank showing particularly. the baiiie therein,- and a level valve inone walllofvtlie tank;

Figure L isasectional View taken.-substantial ly on the line 4*' 4 of Figure l andi'n the direction of the arrows;.

Figure 5` is a` perspective view of-"aportionY or the manifold associated4 with the outlet the tank; w y

Fig-ure 6v is any enlargedfragmentary ldetailotv construction showing theconnectionfofia means: for.- actuating. all ofthe laileplates; and.,`

Figurer 7 r is afragmentary perspective view ilflustratingy asealing member applied at-eachently of' the pivotedl baiiie plates;

Various methods andAv means-v for treating-nbre such as scouring, cleaningl and the like are Well known in the art. Itv is-y one of: theYprime-puw poses of the invention toi supply an-improved tank with. various appurtenances contiguousfto the tankH for rendering the treating process econoinicali-yet satisfactory. The presentv invention is arv continuation; in part r of copending application Serial No1 683,204 now Patent Number 2,533,218 issuedv December 12,1950..

In the treatment oi-breof variousvtypes it isv-necessaryif not -most desirable, to utilizefthe usual liquidl cleansing-` material at a temperaturey rangingD from VF. to 180 F. depending on the type of materiaLbeing treated; AccordinglyVitis oneof thepurposesof thepresent'inventionV to rendere the treating operation ofefibre niereneconomical` bymeans. of maintair-n'ng;V some of1 the heat ofthe liquid: WithinI thatffliquid throughthe utility-iota closure 8 shoWnf-'infFgf ure 3. This closure restsonandina-y vloewsecured to the tank or cleansing liquid container |B,covering the-rollers 1 and 91w-hich-aresuit ably mounted: in juxtaposition relative tothe tank.. rThese rollers are-identical to those shown and; disclosed in-y application SerialFNo; 68352041, nowv Patent Number" 255335218'y issued December 123 1,950. f

A pickup roller anat-other mechanism- (unshown) isr supplied at the exit portionlot-.the tank or container l0 andi-is generally'indicated at 5.- This functionsfto pick up and;A discharge nbre from thetopi surface'cf" the liquidriwitlri the container or'tanrl'.;v

rllhe saidg tanlrvwhichffisY generally` indicatedl at l0 is used to maintaina fluidftherein'ofzf any` such as water; watermixedW-ith aclean'se! or the like; *The said-'.tank lik has* side'x wallsfal'i.' and Mf-resp'ectively with-endsior endL wails ylfb and it connected therewith. The lower portion of the tank It is formed of a plurality of successive hoppers indicated at which extend the entire width of the tank. If it is found desirable the said hoppers may taper to a substantially circular or rectangular opening of a width smaller than that of the tank. This of course is a matter of choice.

a plurality of such hoppers are supplied and at one end of the tank I there is an enlarged hopper 22. It is within the enlarged hopper that the pickup unit described in certain of the mentioned copending applications, is supplied at the top portion thereof.

Identical level stacks or valve cages and 28 respectivelyT are provided in the end walls l5 and I8. These valve cages communicate with the interior of the tank and a small tongue 3U extends angularly toward the interior of the tank partially covering screen openings 32 and 34 respectively. Stationary valve plates 35 and 33 respectively are attached to the floor or bottom of the cages 26 and 23 for cooperation with movable valve plates 4U and 42. Removable valve plates and 42 have screws 44 and 45 secured thereto by any suitable conventional swivel connection and threaded portions or Shanks of the screws are received in threaded apertures in the cages 26 and 28. This construction renders the valve plates 40 and 42 adjustable relative to the stationary plates.

Through the utility of the above described valve means a predetermined level of fluid may be maintained in the tank. Of course, outlets i8 and 55 are provided in each cage for overflow purposes and angularly extending plates 3| may be positioned over the openings 4S and 50, as is seen best in Figure 1.

A substantially flat top baffle plate or platform 52 extends longitudinally within the tank and has planar upper and lower surfaces substantially normal to the sides I2 and I4 thereof and is sealed to the sides I2 and I4. Any suitable means may be used for attachment of this platform 52 to the sides of the fiuid container. It is within the purview of the present invention to adjustably mount the baiile 52 within the tank so that it may be selectively positioned relative to the vertical height of the said fluid container or tank I0. Conventional means may be used in this connection.

The platform or baffle 52 has angularly inclined extensions 5t and 55 extending therefrom which project toward the said hoppers and the said extensions `54 and 56 which are sealed to the sides i2 and I4 thereof, forming a concave section in the under portion or the bottom of the platform 52.

This concaved section defines an air Zone or chamber which is submerged within the liquid cleanser in the container ID. The upper surface of the liquid in the container is a distance from the upper surface of the baffle or platform 52. Further, the air zone or chamber is beneath the baffle or platform 52.

As is seen in Figure 1, the hoppers 2n and 22 actually form the bottom portion of the tank i5 and the walls defining the hoppers have apexes '55 on which a baffle plate 62 is pivotally mounted through the medium of a conventional pivot pin. A similar construction is provided at each apex forming a bank of bale plates 62.

Each bafie plate (see Figure 5) has opposed perches 54 and 65 thereon with suitable pins or stub shafts t6 extending therethrough. At

tached to each of the perches 64 and 65 is a pitman rod or link 68 which connects to the next adjacent baffle plate thereby forming a continuous linkage. Thus, by revolving a crank 'I2 which is attached to one of the hinged pins 'I6 (mounting the baiiles 62) the entire bank of baite plates 62 may be selectively regulated. The said shaft or hinge pin I5 may be any one of the hinge pins which attach the baffle plates to the apeXes of the hopper Walls. However, the shaft chosen must be attached firmly to the pertinent baffle plate 62 in order that the rotating movement of the crank I2 may be transmitted to pivotal movement of the baffle plate 62 associated therewith. It is necessary that the baie plates 62 shall wipe the walls i2 and I4 in order to provide an effective seal. Thus, sealing members which are preferably resilient are attached to close marginal edges of each baffle plate 62. The sealing member may be in the form of resilient (such as rubber) shoes 'I5 and may attach in any suitable conventional manner.

By pivotal actuation of the bank of baffle plates 62 the distance between the upper portions of the baffle plates 62 and the lower surface of the platform 52 may be selectively regulated. Thus, fluid flowing in the zone between the under surface of the platform 52 and the upper end portions of the bank of baffle plates 52 may be regulated as to velocity and volume by increasing and decreasing the above mentioned distance.

A. plurality of elongated openings 'ES are supplied in the wall I4 and a screen or other foraminous member 8i) may be attached over these openings. It is seen by inspection of Figure l that the said openings 'i8 are positioned beneath the said baiile 52 but above the upper ends of the baflie plates 52. This construction is supplied to drain a portion of the fluid Within the tank Il) and to take the portion of fluid for removal in the vicinity of the fluid upper level but not at the upper level. The more buoyant waste products rise in and adjacent the air chamber or zone defined by the platform 52 and it is this portion of uid which should be drained in order that this particular type of refuse may be removed. With respect to the products carried by the sub-surface of liquid (submerged beneath the main upper surface of the liquid), they may be reclaimed and processed further. For example, in using wool, wak and certain types of oils are obtained as by-products.

A plurality of spaced plates il are defined by the spaced elongated openings 'i8 and the heads (see Figure 5) 84 are fitted in the elongated openings between the spaced plates. These heads form a portion of a manifold system for conducting fiuid to a drain, sump or to a reclaiming apparatus, as desired. Branch conduits connect the heads 84 with the main manifold pipe 55 and valves generally indicated at 95 are supplied in the branch conduits. A manually operative type valve is shown. However, it is apparent that all of the valves may be regulated by hydraulic, electrical or other means in order that each may be opened the same amount simultaneously. It will be noted at this point that the crank 'I2 may be removed in favor of an electrical or hydraulic type of actuation mechanism in order to control the bank of bafes, each of which is designated at 62.

Each of the hoppers 20 and 22 are supplied with valves at the egress portion thereof in order to relieve accumulated waste material. The valve aanstaan construction may be conventionalii it is found desirable and it ispreferablethat1 a slidertypef valve be supplied since this'typehas beer-ifound Theeoperation of the present inventionl isV as' follows: Fibre stock of any description, depending' onthe desire of the user of the invention, isintro-y duced by any suitable means such as through theconduit or ductll at one endof the tank or fluid container. The nbre is conveyed along'with' the upper portion of the liquid acrossthe'y top of the tank by actuation of the rollersu I and 9, men-- tioned above. Spacer plates 91 are attached to the-sides i2 and itl oftheV tank il) in order to keep the revolving'members independent of each other iny operation. These plates 91 serve as splash guards and the upper surf-aceof the liquid and thefibre is conveyed in this manner.

Due to the buoyancy of the'bre it floats on the upper surface of theliquid within thefconta-iner and is constantly urged above the platforml 52. The pickup roller or mechanism generally indicated at- 5 removest-he majorfportion of the libre for fortifier treatment. This further treat nrentniay vbe the introduction into a second'ide'nticalmechanism including a tankl and all porti-- nent parts for further cleansing operations, if itv The minor portion of the` is found' desirable. libre settles with refuse slightlybelow the upper surface ci the liquid in the container. There are two types of refuse which are present in the majority ofilbre cleansing treatment operations. The ilrsttype has a density greater than one and falls to somerof the various hoppers described above to be removed throughthe actuation of the slider valves 92. The second type of refuse has a density slightly less than one and is carried along withthe circuitous travel of liquid to the air zone or chamber beneathv the platform 52. Theaction of the rollers 'l and 9 constantly maintains a circuito-us flow of iluid' in the tank, extending both above and below the platform 52. The refuse which has a density very close' tonne is positioned adjacent but spaced from the under surface of the platformr to be drained or withdrawn through the medium or the valve-manifold Construction herein described.

It isintended that all of the fibre be conducted from the tank in the initial pickup operation. However there is always a small or minor amount which is carried with the flow of iluid adjacent the under surface of the platform 52. This minor amount must be reclaimed or recirculated in order that practical efficiency in the operation of the invention be realized. Thus, it travels with the duid and lighter refuse beneath the baille or platform 52 to be again introduced as a portion of the upper surface materials due to the flow of fluid within the tank, created by the revolving members 'I and 9.

By regulation of the bank of baille plates, each of which is indicated at 62, the volumetric flow beneath the platform 52 and the upper surfaces or edges of the baille plates 62 is regulated. Thus, by changing the area of inlet of the traveling or circulating liquid between the initial baille 62 and the bend 54 the volume of fluid per unit time may be regulated. Thus the speed is selectively regulated.` Diilerent types of material (libres) require different settings of the bank of bailles 62 c: and--thisbank'of bailles must beregulated in order' torealize=-maximum efficiency 'in-'the invention..

Since thefbre' isx'transferred orconveyed acrossthe-top portion of'the' liquid withinzthe container' entirely by'meansof the rollers there is no occasion=t`o objectionablytwist or distort the indi-4 vidual libres thus fouling the stock. Piling is materially reduced and for all practical-purposes isi' obvia-ted by' such treatment of the nbre.

In thissingle cyclef of operation is noted that.l

thereare two surfacesfof liquid inthe tank I0'. The main or upper surface first carries all of the stock and the major portion thereof is picked up; The' seconcLsu-rface` is'beneath the platform E2? and carriesonlyY a small butv important portion-ofthe stock which is reintroduced for recirculation t'oi-theupper liquid levelv or surface.

The yoperation ofthe device. isextremely rapid in comparison toconventional cleansing operations oni-nbr'es. Therefore, it hasbeen found by experimentation that vefficiency is materially enhanced byv introducing pre-soaked fibre at the ingress portionf oi the tank. ln pre-wetting orsoaking the bre it is essential to the nal product-thatagitationlof the fibre is maintained at a minimum. The natural contour and curvature as well' as `condition ofY each strand or fibre is maintained as unaffected as possible. Thus, the Wettedfor soaked fibre is'conveyed and treated as described-above.v

Having described the invention, what is claimed'V as new is:

l. Forusein the process of treating nbre, a tankhaving` a substantiallyy open top, a substantially nat horizontal imperforate baille positioned insaid tank and extending longitudinally there-l of, meansfcr circulating fluid and libre in said tank in; a path over and below said baille, said tank having an outlet immediately below saidl baille and valve means associated with said outietf, hoppers forming the lower portion of said tankto collect refuse, and valves in said hoppersv to: relieve accumulated refuse, baille plates pivoted to said hoppers and extending upwardly into ther space between thev tops of the hoppers and the horiaontal'ba-ill'e, means for pivotally moving each oi saidbailleplates, said plates termi-V na-tlng beneath said baille to direct the iiow of iluidbenea-th said baffle and to selectively regul'ateftheclearance between the lower surface of said baille-andthe upper ends of said baille plates.

'23 For useA in the process of treating nbre, a tank-I having a substantially open top, a substantiallylfilat horizontal imperforate baille positioned in'said tank and extendingA longitudinally there-- of and having its sides connected to the sides of the tank, means for circulating fluid and nbre in said tank in a path over and below said baille, said tank having an outlet immediately below said baille and valve means associated with said outlet, hoppers forming the lower portion of said tank to collect refuse, and valves in said hoppers to relieve accumulated refuse, baille plates pivoted to said hoppers and extending upwardly into the space between the tops of the hoppers and the horizontal baille, means for pivotally moving each of said baille plates, said plates terminating beneath said baille to direct the flow of fluid beneath said baille and to selectively regulate the clearance between the lower surface of said baille and the upper ends of said baille plates, and said outlet having a foraminous member constituting a strainer extending thereover.

3. A fibre treating apparatus comprising a tank having spaced side walls, means for accumulating refuse in the lower portion of the tank, manuallf,7 operative slider valves in said means for relieving accumulated refuse, a substantially at horizontal imperforate baille positioned Within said tank and having side edges fixed to said side Walls and angularly inclined terminal portions directed toward the lower portion of the tank forming an air chamber beneath said iiat baille to accommodate some of the fibre, baille plates pivoted beneath said baffle and extending upwardly toward the baiiie, means for pivoting said baffle plates simultaneously, and means between the upper portions of said baille plates and beneath said baffle for discharging liquid from the tank, said refuse accumulating means including downwardly extending sump chambers disposed below the 'terminal portions of the baffle.

4. A fibre treating apparatus comprising a tank having spaced side walls, means for accumulating refuse in the lower portion of the tank, manually operative slider valves in said means for relieving accumulated refuse, a substantially at horizontal imperforate baille positioned within said tank and having side edges xed to said side walls and angularly inclined terminal portions directed toward the lower portion of the tank forming an air chamber beneath said baffle to accommodate some of the fibre, baille plates pivoted beneath said baile and extending upwardly toward the baille, means for pivoting said baffle plates simultaneously, means between the upper portions of said baiiie plates and beneath said balile for discharging liquid from the tank, said last mentioned means including a plurality of openings in side walls of the tank having valves connected therewith, and a screen for straining the issuing fluid, said accumulating means comprising downwardly extending sump chambers below the terminal portions of the baille.

5. A fibre treating apparatus comprising a tank having spaced side walls, means for accumulating refuse in the low-er portion of the tank, manually operative slider valves in said means for relieving accumulated refuse, a substantially at horizontal imperforate baille positioned within said tank and having side edges xed to said side walls and angulariy inclined terminal portions directed toward the lower portion of the tank forming a chamber beneath said fiat baie to accommodate some of the bre, baille plates 7 pivoted beneath said baiiie and extending upwardly toward the baille, means for pivoting said baille plates simultaneously, means between the upper portions of said bale plates and beneath said baille for discharging liquid from the tank,

and level control valves positioned in each end of the said tank for maintaining the fluid in the tank at a predetermined level, said refuse accumulating means including sump chambers extending downwardly from the terminal portions of the baffles.

6. In a fibre treating apparatus, an elongated tank having spaced side walls and spaced end walls, a plurality of successive hoppers formed in the lower portion of the tank, means in the upper portion of the tank for propelling fibres longitudinally through the tank, a rlat top horizontal platform having side edges secured against the side walls of the tank, said platform extending longitudinally of the tank over the hoppers and under the ibre propelling means and having downwardly inclined end portions, vertically extending baflies having lower ends pivoted at the juncture points of the hoppers, means connecting the baffles to pivot the same simultaneously, said side walls having openings therein below 'the platform and above the upper ends of the baies, said end walls having openings therein disposed above the upper ends of the baflies and below the top of the platform, and valve means regulating the flow of liquid through the last named openings.

7. In a fibre treating apparatus including a tank having a liquid level, an air pocket forming member secured in the tank below the liquid level and having an open bottom and a flat upper horizontal wall, said apparatus being provided with fibre circulating means whereby fibres will pass into and through the air pocket formed by the member without contacting said upper wall.

References Cited in the nie oi this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 227,053 Proctor Apr. 27, 1380 410,312 Church Sept. 3, 1889 419,331 Hodgson Jan. 14, 1890 433,583 Sargent Aug. 5, 1890 718,651 McConville Jan. 20, 1903 810,898 Archer Jan. 30, i90-5 973,388 Sargent Oct. 18, 1910 1,034,206 Connor July 3c, 1912 1,186,042 Sargent et al. June 6, 1916 1,280,981 Flack Oct. 8, 1918 1,354,081 Walk-er Eept. 28, 1920 1,920,469 Jones Aug, l, 1933 2,013,522 Mills Sept. 3, 1935 2,157,287 Furbush May 9, 1939 2,219,490 Pisarev Oct. 29, 1940 2,442,012 Leonard May 25, 1948 

